Los Angeles might be known for its glitz, glam, and celebrity-obsessed culture, but that doesn’t mean you have to empty your bank account to have a fun time here. From hiking scenic trails to touring quirky museums to finding the best cheap eats, there are plenty of budget-friendly things to do in LA for travelers looking to keep costs down. So skip the overpriced tourist traps and add some of these affordable activities to your LA itinerary instead. You’ll get to experience the true heart and soul of this city without spending a fortune! When it comes to group transportation, Partybus.com has your group covered with a range of LA bus rentals consisting of party buses, minibuses, full-size charter bus rentals, and more. Just give us a call at 877-563-2133 and we’ll provide private transportation to each of these must-do inexpensive activities in LA.
Runyon Canyon Park
LA has no shortage of hiking trails, but Runyon Canyon tends to be the fan favorite for both locals and visitors alike. It offers a variety of trails ranging from easy to difficult, with the most popular path winding up to the iconic white sign overlooking the city. On a clear day, trekkers can soak up stunning panoramic vistas of the Hollywood Hills, Downtown LA, and even the Pacific Ocean if you’re lucky. Runyon Canyon also has some prime celebrity spotting — so keep your eyes peeled for famous faces during your hike! And of course, don’t forget to take some scenic selfies with the HOLLYWOOD sign in the background.
After working up a sweat, cool down at one of the shaded areas in the park or reward yourself with a post-hike bite at one of the cafes and restaurants near the Runyon Canyon entrance. While you could splurge on an overpriced juice or acai bowl, plenty of budget-friendly spots like Lot 259 Cafe and Grocery and Coffee Source offer cheap eats and refreshing beverages.
Runyon Canyon is open every day from sunrise to sunset, making it convenient to fit in a hike no matter your schedule. Even better? The only cost is finding parking — spots are extremely limited, so consider renting a charter bus with Partybus.com. We’ll provide a personal driver to drop your group off right at the park’s entrance so you can skip the parking headache altogether.
La Brea Tar Pits
Smack dab in the heart of LA is one of the city’s most unique and fascinating geological attractions — the La Brea Tar Pits! This group of tar pits has been trapping animals and preserving fossils for over 38,000 years, including extinct species like wooly mammoths and saber-toothed cats. The best part? You can watch paleontologists actively excavating these fossils right in the pits!
Admission to just see the tar pits is free, but you’ll want to pay for entry into the La Brea Tar Pits Museum to get the full experience and see all the fossils up close. Museum admission is $15 for adults and $7 for kids/students, making it relatively affordable as far as LA attractions go. Free guided tours are also available if you want to learn even more about the pits and fossils.
The tar pits sit right off Wilshire Boulevard and are conveniently located near other LA hotspots like The Grove, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and the LACMA.
The Broad
View this profile on Instagram
Don’t let its contemporary and futuristic façade fool you — admission to The Broad contemporary art museum is completely free! This downtown gem houses an impressive collection of artworks from renowned names like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, and more. Even if modern art isn’t really your thing, The Broad has become an iconic LA landmark with its eye-catching architecture alone.
To visit, you’ll need to secure an advance timed-entry ticket through The Broad’s online reservation system. Tickets are released every month for day-of reservations, so be ready to book your ticket as soon as the next month’s tickets are made available. If you aren’t able to snag a reservation, don’t worry — a limited number of same-day standby tickets are distributed every day at 12:30pm.
Keep in mind that The Broad doesn’t allow any food or drinks inside the museum. However, dozens of affordable food trucks are stationed right outside of the museum so you can grab a cheap and tasty meal before or after your visit! Though museums usually don’t allow large buses to park in their lots, your Partybus.com driver can drop your group off right outside The Broad before parking a short distance away.
The Getty Center
Perched in the Brentwood neighborhood of the Santa Monica mountains, The Getty Center is one of LA’s premier (and most recognizable) art museums. Its iconic architecture designed by Richard Meier, mind-blowing gardens, and impressive art collection spanning from the 8th century through the present day makes it well worth a visit.
While paid parking is available at The Getty for $20 per vehicle, general admission to the museum itself is completely free! You’ll just need to make an advance reservation. Your group can easily snag free tickets for The Getty by reserving online as soon as possible as they do tend to get booked up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons. Same-day reservations are also available but are very limited.
Plan to make a day out of your visit to The Getty Center. Not only does the museum’s massive size and endless array of artwork require ample time to fully experience and appreciate, but the grounds also include various gardens and outdoor exhibits that are just as impressive. Take a break with a picnic on the lush lawns or grab a casual bite from the on-site cafes and coffee carts. With incredibly affordable on-site dining options like wood-fired pizza by the slice and $5 draft beers, you won’t need to worry about overspending on food.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Yes, you read that right — a cemetery made the list of budget-friendly must-dos in LA! While it may seem like an odd attraction at first, the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery is so much more than your average graveyard. Not only is it the final resting place of some of Hollywood’s most legendary stars, but this historic site is also known for hosting various events and screenings throughout the year.
From May through September, Hollywood Forever Cemetery puts on its uber-popular Cinespia movie screening series. Here’s how it works: gates open at 7pm and visitors are free to roam the grounds and scout out the perfect picnic spot for the featured film. As night falls, the movies (American classic hits ranging from Singing in the Rain to Grease) are projected onto the side of a cathedral mausoleum while viewers watch from the cemetery’s gardens and lawns. General admission is only $20 and you can pack your own picnic basket or grab food from the on-site vendors and concession stands.
The Santa Monica Pier
A day spent at the Santa Monica Pier is a quintessential part of the LA experience. And even better, a ton of the activities along the pier itself are free or super affordable! Start your morning off with a leisurely stroll along the pier while taking in the ocean views and lively street performers. At the very end of the pier, you’ll find the iconic 90-year-old Santa Monica Pier sign — a must-stop for photo ops.
Next, check out some of the pier’s offbeat museums and attractions like the small Arcade & Novelty Museum or the International Chess Park with its vibrant murals and gigantic chess pieces. If you’re up for a thrill, you can ride the Pacific Park roller coasters and carnival rides for fairly cheap, with most ride tickets costing around $5 each. Cap off your visit by indulging in some ultra-affordable snacks and treats like churros, candy apples, or a scoop from the landmark Sorrento Beach Shack ice cream stand.
While you can opt to pay for parking along the pier and nearby beach lots, your group can skip the stress of finding spots and parking altogether by booking a compact minibus rental through Partybus.com. We’ll get you dropped off right along Ocean Front Walk so you can maximize your day at the Santa Monica Pier and the beach!
Urban Light at LACMA
View this profile on Instagram
No visit to LA is complete without posing for a few pics in front of the iconic Urban Light installation at LACMA! Located just outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this striking outdoor sculpture consists of 202 cast iron antique street lamps arranged in a magnificent grid. It makes for one of the most famous and Instagrammed photo backdrops in the city — and it’s completely free to see!
While the Urban Light installation itself requires no admission, you can opt to head inside LACMA as well by purchasing a reasonably priced museum ticket. General admission for adults is $25, with discounts available for seniors, students, and youth/children. Pro tip: If contemporary art interests your group more than ancient artifacts, visit LACMA on weekdays after 3PM to score free general admission!
The museum frequently hosts special exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, and family events that are either free or very low cost as well. LACMA’s campus also includes the Bradley Theatre and the sculpture garden where groups can roam while taking in the fresh California air.
Griffith Observatory
View this profile on Instagram
Enjoying sweeping panoramic views of the Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles skyline doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you can take in some of the best vistas in all of LA from the Griffith Observatory completely free! This iconic landmark sits at the peak of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park and gives visitors a 360-degree glimpse of the LA basin below.
Along with the unbeatable vistas, Griffith Observatory also has free daily programs and shows at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. Check listings for incredible space shows centered around recent NASA missions, epic meteor showers, or celestial occurrences like supermoons and eclipses. If your group wants to take a peek through the observatory’s powerful telescopes, be sure to show up right when the observatory opens (the lines get extremely long as the day goes on).
While admission to Griffith Observatory is free, parking typically costs $10 per vehicle. Skip this headache by booking transportation through Partybus.com Los Angeles. We’ll be sure your driver drops everyone off directly at the observatory before finding affordable parking to await pickup.
Book Your LA Bus Rental
Whether you’re exploring LA’s budget-friendly attractions solo or with a big group of family and friends, getting around the city via public transit or circling for parking can be a huge hassle. Simplify your transportation and streamline your LA itinerary by reserving a party bus rental or charter bus through Partybus.com. With a driver taking care of drop-offs, pickups, and navigating LA traffic, you can focus on enjoying every inexpensive activity the City of Angels has to offer.
Ready to book your group transportation? Give our 24/7 team a call at 877-563-2133 to lock in the perfect bus for your LA adventures. Our rental experts will help you choose the size and amenities ideal for your traveling crew. From reclining seats and onboard WiFi to packing space for day trip supplies and souvenirs, your LA charter bus will keep everyone in your group comfortable and ready for your next inexpensive activity.